Stoutenburgh House
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 for Mary and John Stoutenburgh, this Queen Anne house at 255 South Marengo Avenue in Pasadena is the only pre-1900 survivor of the residences that once lined its block. Architect J. H. Bradbeer was brought from Los Angeles to design it. The two-and-a-half-story wood frame house has a multi-gabled roof, bays, porches, fishscale shingles, scrollwork and Eastlake-style turned columns and brackets. Inside, redwood doors, window frames and moldings, original brass gaslamps, a detailed staircase and a tiled parlor fireplace survive. The only significant alteration is the conversion of a second-story porch into a sunroom. A carriage house later remodeled into apartments, a barn and a garage also remain, along with the front walk, lawn and palm trees. Rare in Pasadena today, these outbuildings add to the integrity of the property. It was listed as a fine example of its style and as a survivor of nineteenth-century Pasadena, and was being restored for office use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the finest surviving Queen Anne residences in Pasadena and the only pre-1900 survivor of the homes that once lined this block of Marengo Avenue. Its original design, ornate woodwork, setting and rare outbuildings remain largely intact. It is also presented as a notable exception to the demolition of similar houses for apartments and offices.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80000814, listed November 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 255 S. Marengo Ave., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | November 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000814 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Fellows/J. H. Bradbeer |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, with Eastlake influence |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied but with work in progress; being restored with an architectural preservation consultant for use as professional offices. Condition is described as good, with minor alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.14112, -118.14603 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80000814.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900782
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.